[Willie Bee]

Seattle Seahawks -7½ vs Vikings

Game Time: 08/25/2007 09:00 PM -
By: Ben Burns | sportspic.com

Looking to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to his former team in Green Bay last week, expect Mike Holmgren to have his Seahawks ready to go at home against the Vikings.

These teams were on opposite sides of blowouts last week. The Vikings crushed the Jets by a score of 37-20, putting points on the board in every quarter. The Seahawks, on the other hand, were hammered by Mike Holmgren's old team, losing 48-13 at Lambeau.

Those results should give the motivational edge to the home team as they'll be looking to bounce back while the Vikings may be feeling somewhat pleased with themselves. The fact that this is the third preseason game should also favor the Seahawks. That's because both teams will give their starters significantly more playing time and the Seahawks are arguably (at this point) the stronger and more complete team.

These teams met here in the 2005 preseason. Trailing by a point, the Vikings converted a third and long from deep in their own territory with two minutes remaining. That led to a successful drive and a game-winning Paul Edinger field goal as time expired. Prior to that kick, the Seahawks had the lead almost the entire way, and they had held a 21-17 lead in the fourth quarter.

Look for Seattle to build an early lead again this year, only this time, don't expect it to slip away. Consider laying the points with Seattle.

Free Pick: Seahawks -7½ (+110)

[Willie Bee]

Minnesota Vikings (+7) at Seattle Seahawks

Game Time: 08/25/2007 09:00 PM -
By: Will Cover | playbook.com

Vikings head coach Brad Childress is serious about winning in the preseason, and the Seahawks are over-valued at home off a bad loss. Back Minnesota in Seattle.

At first glance, I was looking to shade the host Seahawks in this Week 3 preseason matchup off their embarrassing 48-13 beat-down in Green Bay last week. But now I feel that the linesmaker has over-valued Seattle off that result with the underdog Vikings taking a very attractive seven points in this contest.

Minnesota posted 37 big points in New York against the Jets last Thursday in a 37-20 win as four point dogs. I have to take the points with the Vikings in this one as they are 3-0 against the spread in their last three preseason games versus the Seahawks, including 2-0 ATS in the last two in Seattle, 21-11 as preseason dogs and 9-0 straight up in Week 3.

Seattle is 1-5 ATS in their last six preseason home games and 1-5 ATS in their last six home openers during the preseason. Take the generous points with the Minnesota Vikings!

Free Pick: Vikings +7½ (-130)

[Willie Bee]

Vikings +7 at Seattle Seahawks

Game Time: 08/25/2007 09:00 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com

The Seahawks are 0-3 against the spread the last three times they've met the Vikings in preseason action. Make your play on Minnesota plus the points this Saturday in Seattle.

The Seattle Seahawks host the rebuilding Minnesota Vikings in preseason action this Saturday. Seattle was listed as 7-point favorites on the opening line.

The starters on the Seahawks' explosive offense are expected to play an extended period of time this week. But despite getting few accolades, the Vikings' staunch defense and conservative version of the West Coast offense is more than capable of making this a competitive tilt.

I remember head coach Brad Childress was serious about winning in his first preseason campaign with the Vikings in 2006, and ended up going 3-1 against the number. I expect he will be equally primed and ready to pull off the upset against a Seattle team that has failed to cover five of its last six preseason home games.

Final Notes & Key Trends: The Vikings are a perfect 9-0 SU in their last nine preseason Game 3's. Seattle is 0-3 ATS in its last three meetings in this preseason series. The Vikings have cashed four of their last five preseason road contests. Play on the Vikings to cover the number.

Free Pick: Vikings +7

[Willie Bee]

Seattle Seahawks -7 vs Vikings

Game Time: 08/25/2007 09:00 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

Seattle's Mike Holmgren will have his team ready to play this week after last week's embarrassment. Side with the Seahawks at home Saturday night versus the Minnesota Vikings.

Was there any coach out there last week more pissed off at his team than Seattle's Mike Holmgren after his team got ripped apart by his former team? Well, maybe Eric Mangini of the Jets, but that’s besides the point!

Anyway, Seattle was simply stomped in Lambeau last week after putting forth a heck of an effort the week before in San Diego. Practice was no doubt tough on the Seahawks this week as Holmgren and his staff made it a point that efforts like that weren’t ever going to be tolerated. With this being the first home game of the season for the Seahawks, I expect them to come out fired-up and really take it to this Minnesota club that got the best of them in both their preseason and regular season games a year ago.

The Vikings went into Seattle and beat them by a 31-13 final count. It was one of the Hawks' worst losses of the year. In that game, the Vikings exploded in the third quarter with a halfback pass for a TD and a 95-yard TD run by RB Chester Taylor. This is exactly the team Seattle wants to see this week to take out their aggression on.

Minnesota has seen a bulk of its scoring come from the defense as they’re yet to throw for a TD in their first two games. Through two exhibition games the Vikings have scored four defensive touchdowns, including three off interceptions, and have six interceptions overall. The offense has gotten into the end zone once. The franchise is still in rebuilding mode regardless of the talent they have on defense. QB Tarvaris Jackson is still very wet behind the ears, and their QB rotation leaves a lot to be desired.

On the other hand, Seattle has a solid 1-2 punch at the QB position with Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace, and it should be enough to cover this lofty preseason number. Make no mistake people, this line was set high for a reason and the number is currently climbing as I type. Seattle will go all out to secure this victory in front of their home fans, so lay the lumber here as they improve to 2-1 both SU & ATS.

Free Pick: Seahawks -7

[RageWizard]

Looks like you can claim a winner no matter what happens in this game.

[Willie Bee]

Indianapolis Colts -6 versus Detroit Lions

Game Time: 08/25/2007 07:00 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

Off their Monday night loss to the Bears, expect the Colts to be geared up and ready to take it to the Detroit Lions Saturday at home in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The Colts stuck to their guns in Monday night’s game against the Bears in the rematch of last season’s Super Bowl. Head coach Tony Dungy only allowed QB Peyton Manning and a handful of first teamers to play through the first quarter, and then allowed the backups trying to make the team play out the string.

That won’t be the case this week at all as the Colts starters will get their most in-game work to date. Dungy expects the first-teamers to play into the third quarter, their busiest action in preseason.

"We'll be shooting for somewhere between 35 and 45 plays," he said.

This spells ultimate doom for this Lions defense that is no doubt the Achilles Heel of the team. The unit has allowed 20 PPG in their first two preseason games, and Cleveland QB Brady Quinn simply ripped their 2nd-3rd string defense apart in his first action at this level last week. That also spells ultimate doom for this club late in the game because I liked what I saw from Indianapolis backup QBs Jim Sorgi and Josh Betts last week vs. Chicago even though they combined to throw three INTs. They grasped the Colts offense once they settled down, and they should be able to move the Colts offense once again against this troubled Detroit stop unit.

The final factor that has me siding with the Colts is the simple fact that Detroit might be without the services of QB Jon Kitna due to a nagging back, and QB Dan Orlovsky has already been deemed out for this game. That leaves J.T. O’Sullivan and newly signed Phil Horvath as the only field generals to hand the Colts consecutive home losses. It’s not going to happen!

Indy will get out to a big lead, and then coast in the second half en route to their first win and cover of the preseason.

Free Pick: Colts -6 (-110)

[Willie Bee]

SF 49ers (+7) at Chicago Bears

Game Time: 08/25/2007 08:00 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com

With the Bears playing on a short week and coming off a revenge win of sorts on Monday night against the Colts, the San Francisco 49ers are the play as road dogs in Chicago.

The 49ers catch the Bears in an ideal spot off a Super Bowl loss revenge win over the Colts last week. In addition, Chicago is just 1-9 straight up and against the spread at home in Game 3 of the preseason and 1-7 ATS the last eight times they have been installed as favorites of six or more points in exhibition games.

San Francisco is 1-1 so far this August, dropping their preseason opener 17-13 to the Denver Broncos and winning last Saturday at home by a 26-21 count over their bay area rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Niners QB Alex Smith helped put San Fran ahead early with 13 first quarter points, completing eight of his 12 passes for 106 yards and one score.

Look for an improved San Francisco squad to take advantage of those numbers here tonight.

Free Pick: 49ers +7

[Willie Bee]

Cardinals (+2½) vs SD Chargers

Game Time: 08/25/2007 10:00 PM -
By: Robert Ross | sportspic.com

With first year coach Ken Whisenhunt looking to get his team used to winning, look for the Cardinals to let their starters go tonight at home in Arizona versus the San Diego Chargers.

Arizona comes in 0-2 after a 33-20 home loss to Houston. That score is deceiving as the Cardinals fell further behind in the second half before cutting the deficit late. Week 1 saw them lose 27-23 at Oakland so expect first year coach Ken Whisenhunt to play his starters as long as necessary and pull out the stops to get a win in front of the home crowd.

San Diego is 1-1 after the Chargers beat up the St. Louis Rams on the road, 30-13. After that strong effort the Chargers can coast in this one and get ready for next week's preseason finale at home versus San Francisco. Take Arizona.

Free Pick: Cardinals +2½

[Willie Bee]

Ride Ravens (-3) at Redskins

Game Time: 08/25/2007 08:00 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

The Ravens come into this meeting with the Redskins healthier and with a huge edge on defense. Back Baltimore this evening when they put a whipping on Washington at FedEx Field.

The Baltimore Ravens lost last week 13-12, but expect the losing streak to end at one game for this team.

The Ravens' D will be all over Redskins QB Todd Collins who will be starting for the injured Jason Campbell. The Ravens are the healthier team at QB and I expect Steve McNair and Kyle Boller to see a lot of action and put up points. Tailback Willis McGhahee is coming off a disappointing game and I expect him to rebound.

The Redskins are 1-1 in the preseason but they already have injury problems to their starting QB and RB, and without them in this game they won't be in it for long. Play on the visiting Ravens in this one.

Free Pick: Ravens -3

[Crayzee]

Looks like you can claim a winner no matter what happens in this game.

these are not willie's picks

he compiles picks made by others